Page 54 of Protecting Addison
“Shit. I know, I know, it’ll probably get worse. I just reallyhatethrowing up. Seriously.”
“I agree. So I won’t tell you that when I was pregnant with Ellory, I had morning sickness for four months straight.”
“No, I definitely don’t want to hear that,” Maggie said, sounding horrified.
“Well, if you feel up to it, I tried something new and made cake-batter brownies.”
“I have no idea what that is, but it sounds delicious.”
Addison smiled. “Oh, it is. It’s a mixture of brownies that somehow looks and tastes like a cake.”
“I don’t care about the particulars, I just want it in my belly,” Maggie joked.
Addison’s smile faded. “Maggie?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really nervous about today. I want to shield Ellory from any hurt, and I just have a feeling this meeting isn’t going to go well.”
“Of course you want to keep her from getting hurt, but that’s not how life works. All you can do is teach her how to deal with disappointment, celebrate successes, and be there for her when things don’t go the way she wants. And from everything I know about you, you already do all that. Just be there for her. Love her.”
Her words made Addison feel better. “Yeah.”
“If I’m half the mom you are, I’ll consider that a success.”
Addison was overwhelmed at her new friend’s words. “Thanks,” she said.
“You’re welcome. Okay, I need to go and get ready to meet Shawn when he gets off work so we can go get the boys. You good?”
“I’m good,” Addison confirmed.
“All right. We’ll be there in half an hour or so. Don’t worry. Whatever happens will happen.”
“Am I doing the right thing?” Addison blurted. “I mean, by letting Ellory meet Brady.”
“Yes. The last thing you want is her finding out later that she had the opportunity to meet him and you didn’t allow it. No matter how things go, she has a right to meet her father. To make her own decisions about whether she wants a relationship with him or not.”
“You’re right.”
“I know,” Maggie said. “But that doesn’t mean the decision is easy. He hurt you. And there’s no guarantee he won’t hurt his daughter. But you have to take that risk and deal with the consequences after.”
“How’d you get so smart?” Addison asked.
“It’s easy to be when I’m not in your shoes. If I was, I’m sure I’d feel differently. I’ll see you soon.”
“All right. Bye.”
Addison hung up and realized she felt better. Maggie was right. If there was the smallest chance that Brady had changed, that he really did want a relationship with his daughter, she wouldn’t stand in the way of that. It meant a new complication in her and Ricky’s already pretty hectic life, but if things worked out, Ellory would have someone else who loved her. And that would never be a bad thing.
Deciding she had time to fold a load of laundry—she swore the damn clothes multiplied when she wasn’t looking—she’d just finished putting the clean items away in dressers and closets when she heard a knock on the door.
It was Maggie and Preacher with Artem and Borysko.
The younger boy immediately ran forward when the door opened and hugged Addison tightly. He was the more clingy of the two boys. While Artem didn’t offer a hug, he still looked relieved to see her.
“Hey. How was school?” Addison asked.
“Good,” Borysko said. “I learn how to spell lasagna. It is strange word, but good in stomach.”
